Doing for God took the place of being with God. Until he learned to be still and listen.

“I needed to cry. No, I needed to weep. Deep, abandoned sobs. What on earth have I done to deserve all this pain?”

Dave Dietz was a man who attended church but really didn’t understand the love of Jesus. After reading a book about truly loving God and people, his eyes were opened and he began caring for people and restoring relationships. Other traumatic events—a job layoff and serious car accident—also changed his outlook.

Although she’s had a successful career in the Christian music world, Nicol Sponberg’s most important job title is mom. That role for her has come with many blessings, but also with tremendous heartache.

A rough childhood which included repeated abuse at the hands of religious leaders made Vic Mitchell a very confused and angry person. When he went into the service after high school and they asked him what he wanted to be, he replied, “I want to become the meanest man possible.” He hung out with the wrong crowd and took pleasure in beating people up. But one Sunday…

“God does whatever it takes to get your attention.” For Jon, it was a huge collision he thought would take his life. But he was given a second chance. And although he was a pastor who preached and taught, he had been too comfortable. The accident brought about a new clarity—a refocus—to passionately pursue Jesus and make Him known.

A serious car crash and one month in a coma changed the course of Russ Shadron’s life. This wake-up call took him from a life of selfishness and partying to a life of gratefulness and understanding.